Shipping-box



vG. M. WALKER.

SHIPPING BOX.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 28.1920.

Patented June 14, 1921.

z'sHEETs-SHEET -2.

PATENT OFFICE.

GAINES M. WALKER, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHIPPING-BOX.

Spcecaton of Letters Patent.

Application led June 28, 1920. Serial No. 392,219.

T 0 @ZZ 'whom t may concern Be :it known that I, GAINEs M. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shipping- Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates generally to receptacles or containers and more particularly to al box that is designed for the storage and transportation of products and commodities that are generally shipped in bulk.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide a relatively simple box or container which, by virtue of its relatively simple construction, can be easily and cheaply produced and said box being light in weight, thereby minimizing freight and transportation charges, and said box being strong and durable so as to readily withstand rough usage and the ordinary wear and tear to which it may be subjected while in service.

Further objects of my invention are to provide relatively simple and efficient means for securing the cover upon the box; to provide a structure wherein practically all the corners of the box are reinforced; and, further, to construct ythe body of the box so as to permit a number of the bodies to be nested, thereby economizing space and minimizing freight or transportation charges when the empty boxes are shipped from the manufacturer to the user.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying r drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a shipping box of my improved construction with a portion of the cover thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view looking against the outer face of a portion of one of the side walls of the box.

Fig. 7 is an elevational against the inner face of a side wall.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section proximately on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the corner of the rectangular frame to which the upper edges of the side and end walls of the 'box are connected.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the loops of wire that are utilized in securing the cover upon the box.

Fig. l1 is a cross section showing a number of boxes assembled or nested for storage while not in use or for shipment to the user.

'In the construction'ofthe particular form of box illustrated in A'the accompanying drawings, I make use of a substantially recview looking portion of the Itangular base frame that is composed-of a pair of side rails l0 and a pair of end rails ll, the ends of these rails being fra-med or connected to each-other in any suitable manner. Positioned on top of this frame and secured thereto in any suitable manner, preferably by means of nails'or like fastening devices, is a bottom member l2 of thin material, lpreferably wood or wood veneer.

Secured in any suitable manner to the side rails 10 of this `base frame are the lower port-ions of a pair of inclined side walls 13 and the lower portions of a pair of inclined end walls let are secured to the end rails ll of said base frame. These side and end walls may be formed of any desired light strong material, but preferably wood or wood veneer. Said walls are inclined away vlfromthe rails l0 and ll of the base frame with the result that the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the chamber within the body of the boX gradually increase toward the top thereof. By virtue of this particularconstruction, the box bodies can be readily nested, as illustrated in Fig. 11,

Patented June 14, 1921.

taken apwhen a number of the boxes are packed for storage or for transportation to the point of use.

In the construction of the side walls 13, they are made substantially longer than the distance between the end walls 14, thus providing end portions 15 which, when the box is properly assembled, are bent inwardly toward each other so that they occupy positions at right angles to the main body portions of the side walls, and these end portions overlie the corresponding side portions of the end walls 14. To permit these end portions 15 to be bent inwardly against the side portions of the end walls 14, substantially V-shaped grooves such as 16 are formed in the inner faces of the side walls 13, said grooves being disposed parallel with the end edges of said side Walls and the depth of said grooves being slightly less than the thickness of the side walls.

To firmly secure the end portions 15 to the main body portions of the walls 13 when said end portions are bent against the end walls 14, the ends of metal staples 17 are driven through the bodies of the walls 13 and the end portions 15, said staples being applied to the outer faces of the side walls 13 and end portions 15 and disposed so that they lie across and substantially at right angles to the grooves 16. (See Figs. 6, 7 and 8.)` These staples are formed of ductile metal, and, therefore, they will readily bend when the end portions 15 are folded against the side portions of the ends 14 and in addition to preventing the separation of the end portions 15 from the walls 13, these staples form an effective reinforcement for the corners of the body of the boX.

In order to materially strengthen the lower corners of the boX body or corners immediately adjacent to the base frame comprising the rails 10 and 11, I prefer to arrange two or more of therstaples 17 so that the same will overlie the corners of the base frame. (See Fig. 1.)

The end portions 15 of the side walls y13 are secured to the end walls 14 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of staples such as 18 that are driven through the two thicknesses of material and clenched upon the inner faces of the end walls. These last mentioned staples 18 are preferably located between the end portions of the larger staples 17, as illustrated in Fig. 1. rlhe upper edge of the body of the boX comprising the walls 13 and 14 is reinforced by a substantially rectangular frame that is composed of a pair of side rails 19 and end rails 20, these rails being positioned against the outer faces of the side and end walls 13 and 14 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, preferably by means of small nails or staples such as 21.

The ends of the rails 19 and 20 are framed together in any suitable manner, preferably by means of horizontally disposed tongue and groove joints, and to prevent these joints from separating, one or more nails such as 22 can be driven through the overlapping portions of said rails and the legs of staples such as 23 can be driven into the end portions of saidrails immediately adjacent to the joints at the ends thereof. (See Fig. 9).

In order to reinforce the upper corners of the box body, the upper staple 17 of each series is positioned adjacent to the top of the side wall 13 and portion 15 so that when the end portion 15 is folded against the end wall 14 and the top frame comprising the parts 19 and 20 are secured to the upper edges of the walls18 and 14, these upper staples will be positioned immediately beneath the end portions of the rails forming the top frame. (See Fig. 5).

The cover'24 for the boX comprises a rectangular section of relativelyV thin flat material such as wood or wood veneer, the size of44 said cover being such that its edges rest directly on top of the rails 19 and 2O form ing the top frame. This cover may be secured on top of the box body in any suitable manner, but l prefer to utilize fastening means that ycomprises a pair of loops of wire 25 shaped substantially as illustrated in Fig. 10. Each loop is provided with a substantially straight portion 26 which, when applied to the box, occupies a position immediately beneath one of the end rails 20. When the loops are positioned on the box for securing the cover thereto, the inner portions of said loops overlap one another, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and` by means of a suitable tool, preferably a short lever, these overlapping portions are twisted together, thereby drawing both loops taut under which conditions the cover will be very effectively 'secured in proper position upon the boX body and there are .no projecting portions to be struck or caught by extraneous objects while the boxes are being handled during transportation.

rlhe wire loops 25 when properly applied for use, firmly hold the cover 24 in proper position without the use of nails or like fastening devices and when said loops are drawn toward each other by twisting their inner end portions together, said loops perfornol the functions of a truss for the upper portion of the box body, thereby materially strengthening the same. Further, when the box is to be unpacked, the cover can be very quickly removed by cutting one of the loops which will permit the ready disengagement and removal of both loops from the box and cover positioned thereupon..

The boxes and their covers can be readily reused by applying thereto new or uncut wire loops. The boxes have no interior projections and therefore they will nest readllO iis

ily with each other and y:there is Vnothing to interfere with `the goods packed within the boxes.

The upper staples 17 atfthe corners of the box are `covered vby the members y19 and 2O of the upper frame and the'clenched Vends of the lower staples are clamped between the side and end walls of the box and the members l0 and l1 of the lower frame and by virtue of these arrangements, said upper and lower staples cannot pull out of the side and end walls.

en a number of the boxes are nested for storage or transportation, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the loops 25 that are to be utilized for securing the covers to the box bodies are pla'ced in the bottoms of the boxes where they occupy very little space.

Shipping boxes of my improved construction can be very easily and cheaply produced, can be made in any desired size, are light, strong and durable, are constructed so that they can be conveniently handled, and by their use, practically any dry commodity or product that is generally transported in receptacles, can be very economically handled.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved shipping box can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shipping box having side and end walls, the end portions of the side walls being bent against the outer faces of the end walls, means for securing the bent end portions of the side walls to said end walls, and ductile metal strips for securing the bent end portions of the side walls-toI the body portions of said side walls.

2. A shipping box having side and end walls, the end portions of the side walls being bent against and secured to the outer faces of the end walls, and du'ctile metal strips seated in the side walls and the end portions thereof for securing said bent end portions to the body portions of said side walls.

3. In a shipping box, a base frame. a bottom secured thereto, side and end walls having their lower portions secured to said base frame, a top frame secured to the upper portions of the side and end walls, and cover securing means comprising a pair of wire loops, the inner end portions of which are connected to each other and the outer end portions of which are positioned beneath the end portions of the top frame 4. In a shipping box, a base frame, a bottom secured thereto, side and end walls having their lower portions applied to the outer vfaces of the base frame and secured thereto, the end portions of the side walls beingbent against vand secured to the outer faces tof the end walls, and .a' reinforcing `frame lsecured to and linclosing the upper edges of the side and end walls.

"5. In a shippingbox, abase frame, a bottom secured thereto, side and end walls having their lower portions applied to the outer faces of the base frame and secured thereto, the end portions of the side walls being bent against and secured to the outer faces of the end walls, a reinforcing frame secured to and inclosing the upper edges of the side and end walls, and a cover positioned on top of said side and end walls and said reinforcing frame.

6. In a shipping box, a base frame, a bottom secured thereto, side and end walls having their lower portions applied to the outer faces of the base frame and secured thereto, the end portions of the side walls being bent against and secured to the outer faces of the end Walls, a reinforcing frame secured to and inclosing the upper edges of the side and end walls, a cover positioned on top of said side and end walls and said reinforcing frame, and means for securing said cover in position, said means including a pair of connected wire loops having their end portions positioned beneath the end portions of said reinforcing frame.

7. In a shipping box, a base frame, a bottom secured thereto, a body comprising inclined side and end walls, the lower p0rtions of which are secured to said base frame, the end portions of the side walls being bent against the outer faces of the end walls, ductile strips for securing the bent end portions of the side walls to the bodies of said side walls, and reinforcing the corners of the box body, and a reinforcing frame secured to and inclosing the upper edges of said side and end walls.

8. In a shipping box, a base frame, a bottom secured thereto, a body comprising inclined side and end walls, the lower portions of which are secured to said base frame, the end portions of the side walls being bent against the outer faces of, the end walls, ductile strips for securing the bent end portions of the side walls to the bodies of said side walls and reinforcing the corners of the box body, a reinforcing frame secured to and inclosing the upper edges of said side and end walls, and a cover removably positioned on the upper edges of the side and end walls and said reinforcing frame.

9. In a shipping box, a base frame, a bottom secured thereto, a body comprising inclined side and end walls, the lower portions of which are secured to said base frame, the end portions of the' side walls being bent against the outer faces of the end walls, ductile strips for securing the bent end portions of the side walls to the bodies of seid curing means comprising a pair of connected side vwalls and reinforcing the corners of loops of Wire having their end portions pothe boX body, a reinforcing `frame secured sitioned beneath the end portions of the 10 to and inclosing the upper edges of said side upper reinforcing frame.

and end Walls, a cover removably positioned In testimony whereof I hereunto :iiiixY my on the upper edges of the side and end walls signature this 12th day of June, 1920.

and said reinforcing frame,` and cover sep GAINES M WALKER. 

